James Claussen has played Santa for years, but now that he’s a widower, he’s lost interest—in everything. So his daughter, Brooke, kidnaps him from the mall (in his Santa suit!) and takes him to Icicle Falls. She’s arranged a special Christmas at the lodge owned by long-widowed Olivia Wallace and her son, Eric. And yet…Brooke wants Dad to be happy, but she’s not ready to see someone else’s mommy kissing Santa Claus.

Single mom Missy Monroe brings her kids to the lodge, too. Lalla wants a grandma for Christmas, and her brother, Carlos, wants a dog. Missy can’t provide either one. What she’d like is an attractive, dependable man. A man like John Truman… But John’s girlfriend will be joining him in Icicle Falls, and he’s going to propose.

Of course not everything goes as planned. But sometimes the best gifts are the ones you don’t expect!

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REVIEW:THE LODGE ON HOLLY ROAD is the sixth installment in Sheila Roberts’ Life in Icicle Falls contemporary romance series focusing on the people of Icicle Falls. Although this is the sixth in the continuing Life in Icicle Falls series, it can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty.

Told from third person point of view THE LODGE ON HOLLY ROAD is an ensemble storyline that focuses on three families (the Claussens, the Monroes, the Wallaces) and the Christmas celebrations at Icicle Creek Lodge- a bed and breakfast where Christmas wishes do come true. Sixty something widow Olivia Wallace is the owner and proprietor of Icicle Creek Lodge and is renowned for her Christmas celebrations. This year, a number of guests will discover love, happiness and a future at Olivia’s bed and breakfast.

As the holiday celebrations build Santa will find himself a new Mrs. Claus(sen), a broken heart will find a new love, and a grieving daughter will discover that life does go on. A little girl’s hopes for a grandma and a young boy’s loss of Christmas spirit will give Santa pause for thought when the guests at Icicle Creek Lodge pull together to make Christmas a celebration everyone will remember. And a single mother of two will find love and happiness when least expected.

A few of the previous storyline characters make an appearance in a secondary and supporting role giving the holiday storyline a familiarity with fans of the Life in Icicle Falls series.

THE LODGE ON HOLLY ROAD is a sweet holiday story about loss, grief and a promise for the future for all three families at Icicle Creek Lodge. The bonds of friendship and love will blossom for three couples as they embark on a new life and a happily ever after at the Lodge in Icicle Falls.

READING ORDER:

1. Summer in a Small Town: Welcome To Icicle Falls 2. Better Than Chocolate 3. Merry Ex-mas 4. What She Wants 5. The Cottage on Juniper Ridge6.The Tea Shop on Lavender Lane7. The Lodge on Holly Road 8. A Wedding on Primrose Street (July 2015)

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

1. How do you choose which couple will be featured in a holiday storyline?

Great question! And thanks for having me, by the way.

I must say, before I start playing matchmaker with my couples I usually have a theme or idea in mind. The Lodge on Holly Road started with the question, “What would happen if Santa lost his holiday spirit?” and moved on from there. What if a man who loved Christmas, who’d always played Santa for family and friends and then worked as a department store Santa, suddenly got all Santa-ed out? What would make a person want to give up on the holidays? (In James Claussen’s case, it was facing Christmas as a widower, trying to get through his first holiday without his wife.) That question of course, leads to the important story question, “What would it take to give Santa back his holiday spirit?” Of course, those weren’t the only questions I had to ask for this book since I gathered an entire cast of characters at the Icicle Creek Lodge in search of a wonderful Christmas. I had a daughter who thought she knew what was best for her father, a man about to propose to the woman of his dreams and a single mom longing to give her children a perfect holiday, wishing she knew how to provide those things Santa can’t pull out of his bag of gifts, like a grandma and a daddy. Bringing them all to Icicle Falls and weaving their stories together was both challenging and fun. I hope readers will enjoy it.

2. When writing a series, is it more difficult or easier to write a holiday themed storyline that features all or most of the previous storyline couples? e.g. ensemble storylines

When you’re writing about a town full of people you can’t always bring back everyone in every book, but I tried to make sure many of readers favorites put in an appearance in this one. After all, it’s Christmas and there are plenty of gatherings and opportunities for old friends to catch up. In The Lodge on Holly Road Olivia Wallace finally gets a little more time center stage. And Dot Morrison and Muriel Sterling, and Pat Wilder, who owns the bookstore, will all be present. And, who knows? By the end of the story Icicle Falls might have a new resident.

Sheila Roberts lives on a lake in the Pacific Northwest. She’s happily married and has three children. Her books have been best-sellers, Amazon top ten romance picks, and her popular holiday novel, “On Strike for Christmas” was made into a movie for the Lifetime channel. When she’s not speaking to women’s groups or at conferences she can be found writing about those things near and dear to women’s hearts: family, friends, and chocolate.

I enjoy the large number of great authors that I can choose from and know I won’t be disappointed with the book because they’re all great. I enjoy reading the Christmas stories year round. They help to recharge my batteries and give me spirit a lift. Thx for the excellent review as always and for this great opportunity!!!